Free School Meals: Summer Holidays

Debate between Rebecca Long Bailey and Angela Eagle

Tuesday 16th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Long Bailey]

I thank the hon. Member for his comments. I await with bated breath the details of the Secretary of State’s summer scheme—I have some ideas to suggest to him for how it might be rolled out. Indeed, there is a wider suite of support that our children will need throughout the pandemic and as we exit lockdown. Tackling poverty is just one element.

[Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab)]

Is my hon. Friend as surprised as I am, if the Government always intended to do this, that they sent out the Transport Secretary and the Work and Pensions Secretary to embarrass themselves defending the indefensible?

[Rebecca Long Bailey]

All I will say is that I am happy we have reached the point we have today, although it should not have taken a public campaign from a well-known national hero to push the Government into making this decision. That said, they have made that decision and we take these small wins where we can find them.